Ticket to the Abyss and back

Secret meeting

The library was place of silence and solitude. Books don't talk, they don't whisper hurtfull comments or spread false rumours. No, the library was a place in which Queen Arianna could be alone with her thoughts, a place where she could be, just Arianna. Therefore this was also the best place for her to hold any conversation that she wanted to keep secret and away from prying eyes and ears, but even here she needed to be cautious, you'd never know if the walls had ears.
The woman in the lavender dress went down to one of the darkest corners of the room, where she picked out a very old book. It was practically ancient, she held it carefully in her hands, it contained the oldest written words about Coronas history, along with a great portion of legends. Legends such as the one about the Sundrop, of which that had turned out to be more than a legend, it had been true, and it had saved the life of both her and her daughter, but to which price? She wondered. "This book might contain more clues, maybe even a solution to the black rocks " she hoped.

She went to back to the middle of the room with the book in her hands (it was big and heavy), as she was about to sit down in one of the big armchairs she felt something was off. Her eyes screened the room. The pencil she had left on the sidetable was gone. She squinted her eyes, while it wasn't dark per say, the little light from the fireplace was offering a few dark spaces where anyone could hide. Arianna knew though that she had become more careful, suspicios even, ever since the kodnapping. Varian might be just a kid but the situation had left her with an emotional scar.
- You can come out now. She said with her regal tone of her voice.
With almost one even emotion, a person came forth and kneeled to her, holding her pen in his right hand.
- My Queen, I didn't mean to frighten you.
- Evan! I didn't expect you tonight, didn't we decid to the meet in a week?
- We did, my Queen. Rusty responded with his eyes steady on the floor.
- Has something happened?
- Not... directly. Rusty responded with an uncertaintly that he didn't recignize in himself.
- Stand up Evan, I can't speak to my confidante when he is kneeling.
Evan stood up tall and straight, he looked the Queen in her eyes.
- So, tell me Evan, what is it?
- My Queen. Rusty cleared his throat.
- I am worried for the kid. He closes himself up, I did talk to him a little but... he...
- But he has issues ? Arianna broke him off.
- Yes, your Highness.
- This is nothing new, we all know this, most of Corona knows this.
- My Queen. Permission to speak freely? Rusty put his right hand on his chest.
- Of course, you don't need to be so formal, Evan.
- Honestly, in my opinion, he will only get worse if you keep him down there.
Arianna sighed and furrowed her brows in a worried emotion.
- I know, but that place is currently the most secure place we have for the boy , both for Coronas sake and his own.
The memory of Varian picking the lock of the most secure prisoncell the Castle had to offer crossed Rustys mind.
- If you keep treat him like the worst scum criminal then that is what he believe that he is and then the most certain outcome is that that is what he will become!
Rusty spat out, forgetting of whom he he was talking to.
- He is just a kid!
- What do you suggest we do with him? We can't exactly let him free, he need to...
- Treat him like the kid he is! Yes, he need to face the consequenses but do it have to be in the worst place in all of Corona? Rusty almost shouted by now.
- Evan...
- At least... at least put him on lockdown in a better cell.... anything that better than where he is NOW. Make the punishment fit his age. He was desperate and acted without thinking. Yeah, it was horrible what the did but he was alone for a very long time ! He wanted to save his dad!
Rusty gestured with his arms and hands, pacing back and forth on the spot, he was all worked up and felt like if he didn't get everything out in the open now, then he wouldn't ever. Something in the back of his haid said that he was going to far, but he shoved it off. The Queen put a hand on his shoulder as an attempt to calm him down, it worked, he froze when she smiled at him.
- Err.. what I mean is... he... umm... he was without any adult supervision for some time, scared and alone...
- You are right, Evan, it will do Varian no good to be locked down in a cell like that. I will convince the King to rearrange his...subsistance, after all we did promise our daughter to give him the help he needed.
Rusty hummed.
- We must have him closely guarded at all times. I think you should be one to do that.
- Huh? What
- You don't want to?
Rusty bit his underlip.
- Yes of course I do. I'm just chocked is all.
Arianna chuckled a little, which really was absurd for the situation, she gathered herself quickly and picked up her dress, it was beginning to get late, she should go to the bedroom.
- I knew I picked the right person for the job.
- Why... why did you choose me? Rusty almost whispered.
- Oh why indeed? That has to be my secret for now, it's getting late.
- Of course, my Queen.
Rusty bowed before he disappeared out the doors quietly.

—-

Log entry 4
That guard "Rusty" was here again earlier. He is different from everyone else. He doesn't seem to detest me in any way, I wonder why.
He doesn't look down on me (apart from in a litteral sense)
I can't help wonder what he wants from me?
Also he is stupid for not using proper precaution.

—-

Rusty returned to his room, it was dark except for the full moon shining through the window.
Rowan always the lightsleeper got up in his bed.
- And where have you been?
- I...couldn't sleep.
Rusty responded thoughtfully.
- I bet you met with a girl. Rowan said while yawning, Rusty grinned while getting himself to bed.
- I guess you could say that...
- I knew it.... you have to tell me about it tomorrow...
Rusty didn't respond to that, as soon as his head touched the pillow he was taken by an overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep instantly.